Military and Veteran Education Benefits

You may be eligible for several types of VA education and training benefits, but there are many things to consider before you apply for a GI BillĀ® program. Your decision to apply for a certain education benefit could impact your eligibility for other benefits. Here are a few factors to keep in mind:

ā€¢ If youā€™re eligible for more than one education benefit, such as Chapter 33 Post-9/11 and the Montgomery GI BillĀ®, you must choose which benefit to receive, a decision that may be final and cannot be changed.

ā€¢ Once you elect to utilize the Chapter 33 Post 9/11 Education Benefit program and your application with the Department of Veterans Affairs has been approved, this decision is final, and requires you to give up any additional education benefits for which you might also be eligible.

In addition to VA educational benefits, there are also Military service scholarships, as well as Federal and State Tuition Assistance programs available. More information on these other opportunities can be found at the bottom of this page.


Eligibility for benefits is not determined by the WSU VA Education Benefits Office, but by the Department of Veterans Affairs. In order to determine eligibility, a servicemember, veteran, or dependent should complete the Application for Benefits. To apply for benefits online, please use the .

See First Time Applicants for complete details of the application process and requirements.

You may use the on the GI BillĀ® website to compare the education benefits available through the following programs.

 

Montgomery GI BillĀ® - Active Duty (Chapter 30)

The Montgomery GI BillĀ® - Active Duty (Chapter 30) is an education benefit that provides up to 36 months of full-time payments to eligible veterans for approved College, Business, Technical or Vocational Courses, Correspondence Courses, Apprenticeship/Job Training and Flight Training. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years following your release from active duty. To apply for benefits online, please use the , completing form 22-1990.

 

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Chapter 31)
The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) program, also referred as the Chapter 31 program, is administered by a different department of VA than regular education benefits. The goal of VR&E Chapter 31 is to assist a service-disabled veteran to prepare for, obtain, and maintain suitable employment. For those veterans who are severely disabled and that gainful employment is not an option, VR&E offers services to improve their ability to live as independently as possible. To apply for these benefits contact the Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist at the

Chapter 33 Post-9/11
The Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI BillĀ® provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after September 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI BillĀ®. To apply for benefits online, please use the , completing form 22-1990.

Chapter 33 Post-9/11 Transfer of Entitlement (TOE)
Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI BillĀ® Transfer of Entitlement is an education benefit program for individuals who served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001. Service members enrolled in the Post-9/11 GI BillĀ® program can apply to transfer unused educational benefits to their spouses or children. For eligibility requirements and how to apply visit the GI BillĀ® Website at .

Yellow Ribbon Program for Chapter 33 Post-9/11

Servicemembers and their dependents who are eligible for 100% Chapter 33 Post-9/11 benefits may be eligible to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program at WSU. However, not every student qualifies for Yellow Ribbon. Yellow Ribbon is a program to help offset out-of-state tuition expenses, as the Department of Veterans Affairs will only pay in-state tuition and fees. If you qualify for Kansas residency or any type of residency waiver offered by WSU, you will not qualify for Yellow Ribbon. Active duty servicemembers and/or their spouses who are using Chapter 33/Chapter 33 TOE do NOT qualify for Yellow Ribbon. Contact WSU Veterans Services for more information.

Reserve Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 1607)
The Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) is education assistance provided to members of the reserve components - Selected Reserve and Individual Ready Reserve who are called or ordered to active service in response to a war or national emergency, as declared by the President or Congress. A member who serves on active duty on or after September 11, 2001 under Title 10, U.S.C., for at least 90 consecutive days under a contingency operation is eligible for REAP. Your eligibility generally ends when you leave the Selected Reserves.*Effective 25 November 2015: Under the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2016, REAP is set to sunset effective 24 Nov 2019. Beneficiaries who did not use REAP benefits during the semester, quarter, or term that immediately preceded 25 Nov 2015 will not be eligible to use REAP benefits.

Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 35)
DEA provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition, or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service related condition. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training. To apply for benefits online, please use the Department of Veterans Affairs , completing form 22-5490.

Montgomery GI BillĀ® - Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606)
The MGIB-SR program may be available to you if you are a member of the Selected Reserve. The Selected Reserve includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve, as well as the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. To apply for benefits online, please use the , completing form 22-1990.


Eligibility for benefits is not determined by WSU Veterans Services, but by the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in St. Louis. In order to determine eligibility, a servicemember or veteran should complete the Application for Benefits. To apply for benefits online, please use the .

See First Time Applicants for complete details of the application process and requirements.

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Kansas Board of Regents Military Service Scholarship
The Kansas Military Service Scholarship is available for the payment of tuition and fees at a public Kansas institution for students who are a resident of Kansas and has either (a) served in military service in international waters or on foreign soil in support of military operations at least 90 days after September 11, 2001, or served less than such 90 days because of injuries during such military service; (b) has received an honorable discharge or under honorable conditions (general) discharge from military service or is still in military service; and (c) has provided copies of military discharge papers (DD-214 form) or active duty orders whichever such paper or order indicate the location of such personā€™s deployment and indicate the person has served after September 11, 2001, in any military operation for which the person received hostile fire pay. Because financial need is a priority in awarding this scholarship, students will need to file a form. Once your school considers you as a graduate status student, you are not eligible for this scholarship.

More information about and the application for the Kansas Military Service Scholarship may be found .

Federal Military Tuition Assistance

The Armed Forces offers soldiers, sailors, marines, guardsman, and airmen several programs to support their education goals including up to 100% Tuition Assistance for college courses taken during off-duty hours. For more information on each military branch's tuition assistance program and application process, click .

Kansas Board of Regents National Guard Educational Assistance
The Kansas National Guard Educational Assistance provides up to 100% of tuition and fees that leads to the award of a certificate, diploma or degree upon satisfactory completion of course work requirements for enlisted members of a Kansas Air/Army National Guard unit. Full-time enrollment not required. Student must have a GED or high school diploma to qualify for this assistance. The member must have less than 20 years of service with the National Guard and not already have obtained a bachelorā€™s degree.

The Kansas National Guard Educational Assistance application may be found .